The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Readings: Jeremiah 18:1-6, Ps. 146:2-6, Matthew 13:47-53

“The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind.” (Matthew 13:47)

Today, Jesus tells yet another parable about God’s kingdom. Why did Jesus give so many parables? Each parable represented the various professions and daily activities of Jesus’ listeners. By explaining spiritual realities with familiar terms, Jesus led his listeners to understand and relate to God’s kingdom easily. The parable of the dragnet in today’s Gospel passage is the fisherman’s version of the Parable of the Weeds. It answers the question: “Why are there evil people in the assembly of God’s children?”

- One of the four marks of the Church is that the Church is holy. How is the Church holy if there are sinners in it? When we say the Church is holy, we mean that the Church is set apart, different from any other human organisation or group. The Church belongs to God even though its members are humans; humans are often prone to sin and various limitations. In this Church, there are good, bad, and ugly characters. As Jesus put it, the kingdom of God is like a massive fish catch. It is full of fish: the good, the bad and even the ugly.

- As soon as the fishermen drag the catch out of the water, they sort it; they throw the bad ones away and package the good ones into vessels for sale or consumption. Jesus told this parable so that we would not be scandalised. He was trying to prepare our minds ahead so that when we begin to see people whose lives contradict what they profess, we would not be surprised.

- Do not be scandalised by any bad Christian. Rather, be inspired by the good ones and strive to be good yourself. Do not allow another person’s sinfulness to become your standard of judging good and bad. That this man of God or that woman of God is a bad person does not mean you, too, should be bad. Among every twelve, there is one Judas Iscariot. Don’t try to be the Judas.

- Just as there are different kinds of fish in God’s kingdom, we also have elements of good and evil within us. I recently heard this statement: “There is a lot of good in the worst of us, and there is also so much evil in the best of us.” Jesus told us to be perfect like God, but the truth is that perfection is never achieved in a day; it is a life-long journey. As the fishermen took time to sort the fish, we must develop the habit of daily examining conscience. This would help us throw away what is bad and improve what is good within ourselves.

- In our first reading, God made Jeremiah go to the potter’s house to see how he was working and made Jeremiah understand that was how God works with us. Even those who are bad are not useless. Yes, those who live scandalously are like clay intended for a purpose but proved unworthy. When the clay the potter was working with became spoiled, the potter reworked it into another vessel.

- Like the spoiled clay which the potter used in making another vessel, the bad Christians are not useless in God’s hands. By hating the sinful actions of others, you could become more inspired to let your light shine. You cheat yourself if you walk out of the Church because of the existence of the bad and the ugly. Hellfire is real. The clay that failed to become a vessel decorating the king’s palace eventually became the clay used by the blacksmith to control fire. Allow God to use you; don’t be focused on others who are not doing well.

- Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, the founder of the Order of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). He was an Italian Catholic Bishop, spiritual writer, composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic philosopher and theologian. He was born on 27 September 1696 and died on 1 August 1787 at Pagini, Italy. One of his favourite quotes is: “Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with Him, familiarly and with confidence and love, as to the dearest and most loving of friends. Your God is ever beside you—indeed, even within you.”

Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, ever-living God, mould us until we become exactly what you intended. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Saint Alphonsus Mary de Liguori, Bishop, Doctor. Bible Study: Jeremiah 18:1-6, Ps. 146:2-6, Matthew 13:47-53).

@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu